GRAND RAPIDS -- Logan Pyett came off the rink at Griff's IceHouse on Thursday huffing and drenched in sweat.

Grand Rapids Griffins assistant coach Jim Paek had just put him through a grueling post-practice workout. The team wants to make sure the 22-year-old defenseman is ready to go as soon as he's fully recovered from his injured hip.

Pyett was injured during the Griffins' 5-4 loss at Rockford on Oct. 10. During a 2-on-1 rush, he fired a pass to teammate Chris Minard. As he was watching the pass and trying to stay onside, a Rockford defenseman hit him.

Pyett isn't sure it was a dirty hit -- no penalty was called -- but he's hoping to get back into the lineup this weekend.

"It's feeling a lot better. Skating-wise, it's fine," he said. "I just need to work on some stuff, pivoting, pushing off. Still a little bit of work to do, but I think I'll be back out there soon."

Pyett made a big leap in his development last season, with nine goals, 21 assists and a plus-7 rating. He also was the only Griffin to appear in all 80 games.

So far this season, he has one goal and a minus-2 rating in two games.

"I don't like missing games, that's for sure. I didn't miss any last year, which was nice," Pyett said. "Makes it tough early to take an injury and not be able to be in the lineup and help the guys, but I'll even hungrier when I get back now."﻿